Device for controlling the temperature of storage batteries



Oct; 12 ,1926. 1,602,559

W A. STRAWMYER 1 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE] TEMPERATURE OF STORAGEBATTERTGES Filed April 18. 192? 2 Sheets-Sh'eet L 6 than;

Oct 12 1926. 1,602,559

W. A. STRAWMYER DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE. OF STORAGEBATTERIES Filed April 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 mm; wt 01, ,5

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE IOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF STORAGE BATTERIES.

Application filed April 18, 1922.

This invention relates to thermal controlling devices, and morespecifically to an improved device for controlling the temperature of astorage battery.

This invention has certain features in common with that of theco-pending application No. 421,800 filed by myself and Vane Beaman onNovember 4, 1920, and patented June 5, 1923, No. 1,457,863.

One object of this invention is to generally improve upon devices ofthis character, and especially upon the device described and claimed inthe above mentioned application.

Another object is to provide an improved form of thermostat and animproved housing and connecting means for the thermostat.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out or implied in thefollowing de tails of description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the preferred form of myinvention.

Fi 2 is a side elevation of a circuitbreakmg mechanism which constitutesa part of the present invention, the cover being shown in verticalsection, certain of the binding posts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, the coverbeing shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through my improvedthermostat-housing, the thermostat being shown in the housingr in sideelevation.

ig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which sim1lar referencecharacters correspend with similar parts throughout the several views,and in which the generator G and storage battery B may be of anypreviously known or preferred form, the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement or combination of elements which will nowbe fully described as follows:

For convenience in assembling the parts of my improved circuit-breaklngdevice, and for presenting them in a unitary structure, I preferablyemploy an insulating base or plate P, and upon this plate I secure,

Serial No. 555,016.

by any appropriate means, two electro-magnets E and E. In connectionwith the magnet E I provide an armature or switch-arm 7 which mayhereinafter be referred to as a generator circuit breaker. This member 7is pivotally mounted at 8 and normally held in the position shown inFig. 1 by a spring 9. In this position it is in electrical connectionwith the stationary contact 10. A second stationary contact is shown at11, and the member 7 touches this contact when the magnet E is energizedso as to draw the armature or member 7 away from the contact 10.

Two switch arms 12 and 12" are secured together by insulating bars 12and pivoted to an insulating support 12. Theseswitch arms are providedwith an armature 13 which coacts with the relay electro-magnet E formoving these switch arms into contact with a pair of stationary contacts14 and 14. The switch arms 12 and 12 are pivoted at 15 and normally heldby a spring 16 away from the contacts 14 and 14, and a stop 17 limitsthe outward or opening movement of the switches 12 and 12.

The base or plate P is provided with a. series of eight binding posts 18for convenience in connecting the generator G, battery B and thermostatT to the several elements which are mounted on the base or plate P. Oneof the binding posts 18 is connected with a ground wire 19, the latterbeing connected at 20 to a ground which may be considered as theindirect generator ground, the generator G being directly grounded at21, and it should be understood that electric current can pass from theground 20 to the ground 21, and vice versa. The positive terminal of thebattery B is connected to the contact l4 through the medium of one ofthe binding posts 18 and a conductor 23, and the contact 14 is connectedto the thermostat T through the mediun'l of another binding post 18 anda conducting-wire 24. The conductor 24 may be considered. as thelow-temperature conductor, because the conductor 24 is connected to thelow-temperature or ninety degree point of the thermostat T in a mannerand for a purpose which will presently appear. A battery-thermostatconductor 25 is in constant electrical connection with the conductingelement 26 of the thermostat (see Figs.

5 and 6). This conducting element 26 is mercury or other appropriateliquid conducting material which has a high coetlicient of expansion.this liquid being confined within a non-conducting tube 27, preferablygl: and this tube is preferably housed in and protected by a casing orhousing 28 which is preterabl ot the form shown in Fins. 1*. and (5.being 01 non-condnet ing material such as porcelain. hard rubber or theequivalent. The member 27 is preterabl l. shaped. as shown. and its\erti-al portion 27 is snugly fitted in a tubular portion 28 of thehousing 28. this portion 28 being preferably bifurcated at its lowerend. as indicated at 28. the turcations 28" having the tendency tospring inward and chunp the lower end oi" the tubular member 27. Theupper portion of the element 28 has a preferably greater internaldiameter than the adjacent part of the element 2'7 so that a clearanceor passage 29 is provided between these elements 27 and 28. and thispass go is 111.0]611 connection with lower rents 3t) and one or moreupper vents 31. the purpose of these rents being to permit the treepassage of air and gas from the battery cell into which the thermostatc):- tends through a stopper or closer 28 which is preferably o't' softrubber. This element L39 preferably provided with a peripheral tla u if.and with an internal thread 1-8,

the latter receiving an external threaded boss or element 28 which formsthe lower section or divisions of the horizontal part of the casing theupper section 28 of this casing being litted on and secured to the lowersection by an appropriate means. screws 28 being here shown for securingthe upper and lower sections together.

Three metal bands or collars 32, and 34 are secured around thehorizontal section otthe member 27 and fitted snugly and immovabl in thecasing 28. Tncidentallv these bands or collars secure the member 27against movement in its rasing. but the main bbiect oi these metal bandsare to provide an appropriate and practical electric conducting meansbetween the liquid conducting me d um 2t; and the conducting wires 24. 25 and to receive the respective conducting wires. and the tubularmembers 27 and 28 are also aperturcd to receive these wires. so that theconducting wires 24, 2? and 35 extend from the exterior oi the housing28 to the interior ol the tubular member 27 through registeringapertures in these members and in the lead collars. as indicated at 36in Fig. 6. It will also be seen, therefore. that when the liquidconducting n'iaterial :26 is contracted so that it extends to a pointbetween the collars 32 and 33 this liquid is in electrical connectionwith the conductors 24 and 25. On the other hand. when the liquidexpands.

The collars 32. 33 and 3-1 are apertured' it first electrically connectswith the conductor Q-l and. thereafter connects with the conductor 35.

le'lerring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the negative terminalof the battery 13" connects with the electro-niaguet lh' through themedium ol' coiuluctors Ill and 3S. and one of the binding posts 1%. Theother terminal 39 et this magnet connects with the switch-arm 1:!"through the medium of the spring lo.

The conductor 35 extends from one of the binding posts 18 to a bindingpost l to which a conductor ll connected, this conductor also beingconnected to the switcharm 12 at The binding post 40 is also connectedto a terminal or of the electromagnet E and the other terminal 414: ofthis magnet is connected to one of the connecting bars of the battery 13through the medium oi a conducting wire at?) and one ot the posts 18.

The automatic operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the battery B is being charged by current trom thegenerator G, this current passes through the generator circuit whichconsists ot conducting wires 11:6 and 47, the arm 7, contact 10 andgrounds 21 and 22: The batter temperature increases until finally theliquid element 26 expands into contact with the conductor 35, at thepoint indicating 115 degrees. The current now passes through theconductor 25, through the mercury or element 26. the conductor 35 andits binding post 18, thence to binding post- 40. througl'i the conductor40 to the magnet E through this magnet to the conductor a l. thencethrough one of the binding posts 18 to the conductor :15, and thencethrough the central battery-cell to the conductor 25. thus completingthe circuit through the electro-1nagnet E which energizes this magnetand causes it to draw the armature 13 to its core. The armature 13 drawsthe switch-arm 12 against the contact 14. and at the szune time drawsthe switch-arm 12 against the contact 14:. This closes a circuit throughthe magnet E so that the current now flows as follows: From the positivebinding post or terminal of the battery B. a current now flows throughthe conductor 23 and its binding post 18 to the contact ll, thencethrough the switcharm 12, the spring 16, conductor 39, magnet E.conductor 38 and its binding post 18, thence through conductor 37 to thenegative terminal of the battery B. and thence through the battery tothe positive terminal thereof. 13y thus coi'l'ipleting the circuitthrough the magnet E, this magnet is energized and draws the armature 7away from the contact 10. thus breaking the charging circuit between thebattery and generator.

Normally and before the armature 7 is accuses drawn away from; thecontact- 10, thechaa'ging circuit from the generator to the battery isas follows: From the generator G through the conductor 46, the currentflows to oueot the binding posts 18, thence-to the armature 7, spring 9.thence through contact 1(i,theconductor 4-7 (thri'mgh the medium of itsbind ing posts 18) to the positive terminal of the battery B, thencethrough the battery, the ground 22, and thence through the ground 21back to the generator, thus completing the normal battery-chargingcircuit.

\Vhen the armature 7 is drawn away from the contact 10, as previouslydescribed, the armature or switch-arm 7 is held against the contact 11by the magnebE, so that the current now goes through the armature 7, thecontact 11 and the ground 20 (through the medium of the conductor 19 andits binding post 18), and from the ground 20 to the ground 21. While thecurrent is thus flowing, as just previously described, the mercury orfluid element 26 is at the band or collar 32, that is, the 115 degreepoint. 'hen the mercury recedes below the 115 degree point, a closedcircuit is still maintained through the magnet E this circuit havingbeen completed at contact 12 when the magnet E drew the armature 13 toit. This closed circuit is maintained until the mercury recedes belowthe degree point, and then each movable part returns to its normalposition. Tracing the current through this last mentioned closedcircuit, we see that it passes from the battery B through the conductor25, through the mercury 26 to the 90 degree point, thence through theconductor 24 and its binding post 18, thence through the contact 14, theswitch-arm 12, the, conducting wire 41, binding post 40, conductor 40",thence through the magnet E its terminal 44, the conductor 45 and itsterminal 18, thence back to the battery B and through the central cellof the latter to the conductor 25.

So long as the mercury 26 extends to a point between the 90 degree and115 degree points, this latter circuit remains closed and does notpermit the magnet E to become deenergized; but when the mercury orelement 26 recedes to a point below the 90 degree point, this lattercircuit is broken, so that the magnet E is de-energized, and the spring16 forces the spring arms 12 and 12" away from the contacts 14 and 14.Moreover, when the switch-arm 12 moves awav from the contact '14" thisbreaks the circuit through the magnet E, so that the armature 7 is nowmoved by its spring 9 against the contact 10, thus reestablishing thecircuit between the generator andthe battery, so that the latter isagain recharged by the generator-current.

It is not intended to limit this invention through the-medium of the tothe exactdetails of construction and ar rangement here shownanddescribed, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventiveideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a battery controlling system, the combination with a generator anda battery tobe charged thcreliiy ot" a unitary structure, including abase plate, two electro-magnets mounted on the base plate, a combinedarmature and circuit closer pivotally mounted on the base plate inoperative relation to one of said magnets, two electric contacts onopposite sides of the combined armature and circuit closer, a spring fornormally holding the combined armature and circuit closer against one ofsaid electric contacts, for closing the charging circuit between thegenerator and the battery, a thermostat for controlling the other ofsaid electromagnets, a circuit closer including a switch arm operable bysaid last mentioned magnet for completing. an electric circuit betweenthe battery and a low temperature point of the thermostat, and a secondswitch arm secured to said last mentioned switch arm and adapted tocomplete an electrical circuit between the battery and a terminal of themagnet which actuates said combined armature and circuit closer, wherebythe latter is caused to contact with the other of said first mentionedelectric contacts to ground the generator circuit.

2. In a battery controlling system, the combination of a batterycontrolling device, comprising a unitary structure including a baseplate, two electromagnets mounted on the base plate, a combined armatureand circuit closer pivotally mounted on the base plate in operativerelation to one of said magnets, two electric contacts on oppositesidesof the combined armature and circuit closer, a spring for normallyholding the combined armature and circuit closer against one of saidelectric contacts, a thermostat for controlling the other of saidelectromagnets, a circuit closer including a switch-arm operable by saidlast mentioned magnet for completing an electric circuit between thebattery and a low temperature point of the thermostat, a secondswitch-arm rigid with said last mentioned switch-arm and an electricconductor connecting said second switch arm with a terminal of themagnet which actuates said combined armature and circuit closer, agenerator electrically connected to said combined armature and circuitcloser, a storage battery electrically connected with said first magnet,an electric conductor connecting said storage battery with one of thetwo above mentioned electric contacts, whereby the storage battery iselectrically connected with the generator when the combined armature andcircuit breaker is in contact with the said electric magnet anotherbeing connected to and con 10 trolled by said first mentioned switcharm, and the other being electrically connected to said storage battery.and a magnet battery connector electrically connected to said batteryand to a terminal of the electromag- 15 not which act-nates said switcharm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM A. STRAVVMYER.

